English horticulturist Monty Don says this common garden plant is part of his daily diet

At 70, Monty Don isn't talking about retirement. He's talking about a garden plant he can’t live without. He talks about the plant that he's eaten almost every single day for years, and wouldn't dream of giving up.


When asked by Jo Whiley on the RHS YouTube channel which plants he'd take to a desert island, Monty had to think hard about the edible option. The choice came down to something that most people wouldn't consider worthy of passionate discussion. But that's exactly what makes Monty different.


"It sounds really weird," he admitted, "just a really good lettuce. It is a good Parris Island Cos lettuce." Then he explained why: "Because I eat lettuce every day of my life and I love all the different varieties that come in season and just for the sensuous experience of knowing I've sown the seed, and grown it, and..." He trailed off, but the point was clear.

Why this matters more than you'd think

Most people hear "eat your greens" and tune out. It's advice that's been hammered so hard it's lost all meaning. But Monty Don isn't talking about forcing yourself to eat something you hate.


Parris Island Cos, which is a popular variety of romaine lettuce, is very nutritious. It offers a dense source of vitamins A, K, and C, in addition to folate and dietary fiber. But Monty doesn't lead with the nutrition label. He leads with the experience. With the sensuous part. With the fact that this heritage variety is a firm favourite due to its crisp, tasty leaves that are delicious in salads and sandwiches.


It's a subtle difference, but it's everything. Because that's how you actually get people to eat well—not by guilt-tripping them with nutritional information, but by making them fall in love with the thing itself.

A garden approach to health

Alongside a healthy diet full of homegrown fruits and vegetables, Monty maintains an active lifestyle while working on his famous Longmeadow garden, where Gardeners' World is filmed, and walking his dogs.


The Parris Island Cos is named after a small island off South Carolina, this heritage variety has been around since 1952.


Monty Don's garden philosophy has never been about chasing the next big thing. It's been about showing people how to work with their land to grow food they actually want to eat. And if that means eating lettuce almost every day for decades, well—there are worse ways to live.